Apparatus for positioning articles in a tying machine



' Sept. 1958 2,850,963 APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING ARTICLES IN A TYING MACHINE I Filed July 7, 1955 c. L.- GREBE ET AL 4 Sheefcs-Sheet l Sept..9, 1958 c. L. GREBE ET AL 3 APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING ARTICLES IN A TYING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I FT;-4

CHAUNCEY L. GREBE, HARRY W TAYLOR and 56077 D. WARNER,

lhe/r Af/omey.

Sept. 9, 1958 c. GREBE ET'AL 2,850,963

APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING ARTICLES. IN A TYING MACHINE.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 7, 1955 I //VVEIVTOR$.' CHAU/VCEY L. GREBE, HARRY n. TAYLOR 000' v I $COTT D. WARNER,

- their Attorney.

Sept. 9, 1958 c. L. GREBE ET AL 2,850,963

APPARATUS FOR PosmoNmd ARTICLES IN A TYING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 CHAU/VCEY L. GREBE, HARRY M. TAYLOR and SCOTT D. WARNER H1 air A Home v.

2,850,963 Patented Sept. 9, 1958 APPARATUS FOR PUSITHGNHNG ARTECLES IN A TYiING MACHINE Chauncey L. Grebe, Concord, Harry W. Taylor, Antioch, and Scott D. Warner, Pittsburg, Qaiifi, assignors to United States Stee Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application .iuiy 7, 1955, Serial No. 520,516

6 Claims. (Cl. wit-4) The present invention relates to material handling apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for positioning an article in an automatic tying or banding machine for processing.

Although not limited thereto, the apparatus of the invention is especially suitable for handling conventional prism shaped nail cartons at the tying machine of an automatic nail packaging iine and in respect to such use a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described.

A conventional automatic nail packaging line functions to ack nails into cartons, fit the cartons with covers, apply wire bands around the packed cartons in two planes, load and tier the packed and handed cartons on pallets, and finally discharge the loaded pallets for shipping or storing. Prior to our invention, the packed cartons were manually positioned for each banding operaion of the automatic tying machine in the packaging line. The positioning operation required the complete and full time attention of an operator at the tying machine while the packaging line was in operation. The operator would place the carton in the tying machine and then actuate the tying mechanism which would function to place one loop of wire around the carton. After completion of one tying cycle, the operator would turn the carton 90 degrees and actuate the tying mechanism again. This would cause a second loop of wire to be applied around the carton in a plane 90 degrees removed from the plane of the first tie after which the package would be discharged onto a conveyor for removal to a palletizen- The necessity for manually positioning the carton each time she was applied not-only exposed the operator to safety hazards incidental to placing his hands in the tying machine but also reduced the speed of the tying operation and interfered generally with the syn- ,chronization of operations of the entire packaging line.

it is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which may be used in conjunction with a :tying machine to automatically position an 'arvticle in the machine so that tie bands can be applied around the article in several different planes.

it is another object of theinvention .to provide apparatus for automatically positioning a carton which includes a series of fiuid pressure cylinder operated articlehandling devices operable in sequence to position and index a carton in a banding machine in response to ac- Figure 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical system of the apparatus of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings reference numeral 2 designates a powered line roller entry conveyor which is part of a nail packaging line and which functions to carry loaded nail cartons to an automatic wire tying or banding machine 4 which is provided with a work platform 5 and banding machanism 6. Reference numeral 8 designates a roller conveyor equipped with an electrically powered belt 10 which serves to convey tied cartons from the work platform of the tying machine to a palletizer machine (not shown).

The apparatus thus far described is conventional and is not claimed as part of our invention, the details of which will now be described.

Aflag switch 12 is suspended above the discharge end of the entry conveyor 2 in the path of cartons traveling on the convey-or. A fluid pressure cylinder 14 having a piston rod 16 slida'ble therein is mounted on a bracket 18 adjacent the entry side of the work platform 5 of the tying machine. A positioning arm 20 is pivotally attached to the projecting end of the piston rod 16. The arm is substantially L shaped and is pivotally connected by the end of its short leg with a vertical pivot 22 on the work platform 5. A limit switch 24 adapted to be actuated by the arm 20 upon the forward thrust on the piston rod 16 is mounted on the work platform 5 in the path of the positioning arm 2%.

A fluid pressure cylinder 26 having a piston rod 28 slidable therein is mounted on the corner of the work platform 5 diagonally opposite the pressure cylinder 14. A lever 3% is pivotally attached by one end to the projecting end of the piston rod 28. The lever 30 is pivotally connected with the work platform intermediate its ends as at 32. The opposite end of the lever 30 is pivotally connected with an indexing ram 34 which is mounted for travel between a pair of grooved guide rollers 36 which are rotatably disposed on the work platform 5. A limit switch 38 is mounted on the work platform 5 adjacent the path of the piston rod 28 and is adapted'to be tripped by a projection 40, which extends laterally from the end of the piston rod, when the piston rod is retracted into the cylinder 26. A limit switch 42 is mounted on the work platform 5 adjacent the rearward end of the ram 34 and is adapted to be tripped thereby when the ram is returned to retracted position.

A fluid pressure cylinder 44 having a piston rod 46 slidable therein is mounted on the work platform 5 cpposite the indexing ram 34. The projecting end of the piston rod 46 is provided with a pusher plate 48. A limit switch 54) is disposed on the Work platform adjacent the piston rod 46 and is adapted to be tripped by the plate 48 when the rod 46 is retracted into the cylinder 44. A pressure type limit switch 52 is provided in the fluid pressure supply line 54 connected with the cylinder.

Limit switches 56 and 58 are provided adjacent each end of the wire tying mechanism 6 and are adapted to be actuated by segments of the tying mechanism as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

A, B and C designate loaded nail cartons being handled by the apparatus of the invention.

The sequence of steps of the operation of the apparatus is as follows.

A nail carton A followed by carton B is being con. veyed on the entry conveyor into the range of the positioning arm 20, as Shown in Figure 3. The pressure cylinder 14 is actuated when carton A trips the flag switch 12 to close it momentarily as it passes thereunder when it is discharged from the entry conveyor 2. The closing of flag switch 12 by carton A also stops the entry conveyor 2 so that carton B is held back. When the cylinturn it 90 degrees, as shown in Figure 5.

der 14 is actuated, piston rod 16 is thrust forward causing the arm 20 to turn about the pivot 22 and push carton A into tying position in the center of the work platform 5, as shown in Figure 4.

At the end of the forward travel of the piston rod 16 the positioning arm 20 trips the limit switch 24 which actuates the cylinder 14 to retract piston rod 16. Tripping of switch 24 also actuates the tying mechanism 6 and causes the first band to be placed around the carton A. When the second tying cycle is started limit switch 58 is tripped by a segment of the tying mechanism which causes the entry conveyor 2 to start.

Upon completion of the first tie around the carton A, a segment of the tying mechanism actuates limit switch 56. The actuation of limit switch 56 causes piston rod 28 to be retracted into the cylinder 26. The retraction of the piston rod 28 causes the indexing ram 34 to be thrust forward to engage one corner of the carton A to When the piston rod 28 is retracted into the cylinder 26, the projection 40 trips the limit switch 38 which sets up electrically the actuation of fluid pressure cylinder 44 which is actuated by the tripping of limit switch 42 when it is tripped by the return of the ram 34. The tripping of limit switch 38 also actuates the return of the piston rod 28 to the projected resting position. The tripping of limit switch 42 by the indexing ram 34 at the end of its return stroke results in the simultaneous actuation of the pressure cylinder 14 and cylinder 44 so that piston rods 16 and 46 are projected to cause the positioning arm 20 and pusher plate 48 to square carton A in position for the second tie, as shown in Figure 6. When piston rod 46 is thrust forward, pressure limit switch 52 is tripped which causes the retraction of the piston rod 46 after carton A has been squared in position. The tripping of limit switch 24 by the arm 20 brings about the retraction of the piston rod 16 after carton A has been positioned.

When the piston rod 46 is retracted, pusher plate 48 trips limit switch 50 which actuates the tying mechanism 6 for the second tying operation. When the second tying cycle is started limit switch 58 is released and limit switch 56 is closed by the tying mechanism to start the entry conveyor 2. Starting the entry conveyor causes carton B to pass under and trip the flag switch 12 to close it momentarily which actuatcs cylinder 14 to project piston rod 16 and arm 20 to push carton A onto platform as the second tie is completed around carton A as shown in Figure 7. The movement of carton B into tying position by the arm 20 causes the now tied carton A to be pushed onto the conveyor belt 10, as shown in Figure 8, and be conveyed to the palletizer (not shown). The operation of the apparatus is then repeated as eX-' plained above to tie carton B.

The electrical system for operation of the apparatus of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 9 and functions as follows:

To start the tying operation three pushbuttons 60, 62 and 64 are operated to complete circuits between power lines L1 and L2 to start entry conveyor motor 60M, exit conveyor motor 62M and tying machine motor 64M, respectively. Motor 60M powers entry conveyor 2 and causes the carton A to be carried along the conveyor until it reaches and trips flag switch 12 to close it momentarily. Closing of flag switch 12 actuates a relay 66 and opens a normally closed contact 6611 of the relay to open the circuit to motor 60M and stop conveyor 2. Actuation of relay 66 also closes a normally open contact 66b to close a seal-in circuit for relay 66 across flag switch 12. The contacts of each relay of the electrical system illustrated in Figure 9 and described herein are designated by the same reference numeral which is used to designate the operating coil of the relay followed by a characterizing letter designation.

Energization of relay 66 closes its normally open contact 66c and completes a circuit between lines L1 and L2 to solenoid 141, which is connected with pressure cylinder 14 (as used herein the sufiix P after a reference numeral refers to the solenoid operating a valve controlling the projection of the piston rod of the cylinder designated by the reference numeral and sufiix R indicates the solenoid operating the valve controlling retraction of the piston rod) through normally closed contacts 700, 72a, and 74a of relays 70, 72 and 74, respectively, which will be further referred to hereinafter, normally closed conatct 24a of limit switch 24, normally closed contact 76a of a by-pass switch 76, normally closed contact 93a of switch 98, which will be further referred to hereinafter, and normally closed contact 58a of limit switch 58. Completion of this circuit actuates fluid pressure cylinder 14 to cause projection of piston rod 16 and pushing of carton A into tying position by arm 20. When the piston rod 16 is fully projected, arm 20 contacts and trips limit switch 24 to open its normally closed contact 24a and close its normally open contact 24b.

When limit switch 24 is tripped, its normally closed contact 24a is opened and its normally open contact 24b is closed, solenoid 141 is de-energized, and the circuit to solenoid 14R is completed between L1 and L2 through normally closed limit switch contact 58a, normally closed switch contact 9811, normally closed by-pass switch c0ntact 76a, contact 24b of limit switch 24, and normally closed contact 78a of a relay 78. Relay 70 is energized at the same time through normally closed contacts 78b and 88a of relays '78 and 80, respectively. This causes the retraction of piston rod 16 into cylinder 14 and the closing of normally open contact 70b of relay 70 to seal in the relay 70 through normally closed by-pass switch contact 76b since limit switch 24 will open on the normally open contact 24b and close on the normally closed contact 24a. Normally closed contact 70a of relay 70 is opened when relay 70 is energized to maintain an open circuit to solenoid 141. Also, when relay 70 is energized, normally open contact 70c is closed and a circuit is completed to a solenoid trip valve 82 between lines L1 and L2 through the normally closed contact 58a of limit switch 58 and switch contact 98a to operate a mechanical starting lever (not shown) of the tying machine. This starts the tying machine and the first tie is made around the carton A. When the tying cycle starts, limit switch 58 is tripped to close its normally open contact 58b and open its normally closed contact 58a and solenoid valve 82 is de-energized, but energization of relay 70 and solenoid 14R are maintained by the seal-in circuit described above for relay 70 through by-pass switch contact 76b, closed relay contacts 70b, 78a, 78b and a.

At the completion of the first tie, a segment of the tying mechanism 6 trips limit switch 56 and closes its normally open contact 56:: and opens its normally closed contact 56b and completes a circuit to solenoid 26R and relay 80 between lines L1 and L2 through normally closed relay contacts 84a and 86a. When solenoid 26R and relay 80 are energized, normally closed contact 80a of relay 80 in the circuit of relay 70 is opened to tie-energize relay 70. When relay 70 is thus de-energized its normally open contact 70b is re-opened so that solenoid 14R is also de-energized.

Energization of solenoid 26R causes actuation of cylinder 26 and piston rod 28 is retracted. Retraction of piston rod 28 brings about forward movement of indexing ram 34 through lever 30 to turn carton A 90 degrees. The retraction of piston rod 28 causes normally open limit switch 38 to close and normally closed limit switch 42 to open. This completes a circuit to relay 84 be tween lines L1 and L2 through now closed contact 56a of limit switch 56, normally closed switch contact 98c, and closed limit switch 38. When relay 84 is energized its normally closed contact 84a is opened and opens the circuit to solenoid 26R and relay 80. At the same time normally open contact 84b of relay 84 is closed and a circuit to solenoid 26F and relay 88 between lines L1 and L2 is completed through closed contact, 56a of limit switch 56 normally closed switch contact 98a and now closed contact 84]) of relay 84. Energization of solenoid 2GP causes actuation of cylinder 26 to project piston rod 28. The action of cylinder 26 is rapid and at the end of the travel of piston rod 28 while being retracted it closes limit switch 38 for only a short time. Therefore, an additional seal-in circuit is added when relay 88 is energized to keep it energized until its functions are completed. This seal-in circuit extends to relay 88 between lines L1 and L2 through normally closed relay contact 90:: and normally open relay contact 88a which is closed when relay 88 is energized.

When relay 88 is energized its normally open contacts 881') and 88c are closed and relays 92 and 86 are energized. The circuit to relays 92 and 86 is completed between lines L1 and L2 through normally closed pressure limit switch 52, and normally open contacts 88b and 880 which were closed when relay 88 was energized. When relay 92 is energized its normally open contact 92a is closed to provide a seal-in circuit around contact 881) for relay 92. A seal-in circuit is provided for relay 86 between lines Li and L2 through closed contact 56a of limit switch 56 normally closed contact 98e, and the normally open contact 86b of relay 86 which is closed when relay 86 is energized. Relay 86 has a normally closed contact 86a in the circuit of solenoid 26R and relay 80, which is opened when relay 86 is energized to prevent re-energization of the circuit as relay 84 drops out. be kept open until contact 56a of limit switch 56 is opened.

When the indexing ram 34 returns to retracted position after the carton has been turned, it closes switch 42 again. When switch 42 is thus re-closed, relay 90 is re-energized and since relay 92 is now energized a circuit is completed to solenoid 44F and relay 74 between lines Lll and L2 through normally open contact 90b, which is closed upon energization of relay 90, and normally open contact 9%, which was closed when relay 92 was energized. A normally open contact 74b of relay 74 is closed upon energization of relay 74 and energizes solenoid MP by completing a circuit between lines L1 and L2 through normally closed relay contacts 72a, 70a and normally open contact 660 which is still closed from the initial operation. This causes piston rods 16 and 46 to be projected to properly square carton A in tying position by means of arm and pusher plate 48 after it has been turned 90 degrees by the indexing ram 34.

Pressure limit switch 52 opens when a predetermined pressure is exerted on the carton A. This de-energizes relay 92, solenoid 44F and relay 74. The solenoid 141 is de-energized by the normally opencontact 74b when relay 74 is tie-energized.

Relay 78 and solenoid 44R are energized when a circuit is completed between lines L1 and L2 through contact a of limit switch 58, which is tripped and closed when piston rod 46 is projected, normally open contact 860 of relay 86, which is still energized through closed contact 56a of limit switch 56, normally closed switch contact 98e, and normally closed contact 920 of relay 92. This causes retraction of piston rod 46 into cylinder 44. Energization of relay 78 closes its normally open contact 78c to energize solenoid 14R which in turn actuates cylinder 14 to retract piston rod 16 and arm 20. Normally closed contact 78b of relay 78 is placed in the circuit of relay 78 to prevent it from closing. Another normally closed relay contact 78a is placed in the circuit to prevent energizing relay 70 through limit switch 24.

When piston rod 46 reaches the retracted position, limit switch 5% is tripped and its normally closed contact 50a is opened and its normally open contact 59b is closed and solenoid 44R and relay 78 are de-energized. Also when limit switch 50 is tripped by retraction of piston rod 46, relay 72 is energized by a circuit being This circuit (to solenoid 26R and relay 80) must completed between lines L1 and L2 through closed contact 50b, normally closed relay contacts 92d and 88d, and normally open contacts 66d and 8601, which are still closed. A seal-in circuit is provided around relay contact 86d through relay contact 72b. The normally closed relay contacts 92d and 88d and the normally open relay contact 66a act as interlocks to prevent the operation of relay 72 until all other sequences are completed.

Normally open contact 72c of relay 72 operates the solenoid trip valve 82 through the closed contact 58b of limit switch 58 and closed contact 56a of limit switch 56. This starts the second tying cycle.

As soon as the second tying cycle starts a tying mechanism sector releases limit switch 56 and closes limit switch 58. This causes normally open contact 56a of switch 56 to re-open and its normally closed contact 561) to re-close, and the normally closed contact 58 1 of switch 58 to re-close and its normally open contact 581: to re-open. This de-energizes relay 86 and solenoid valve 82.

Relay 96 is energized when a circut is completed between lines L1 and L2 through contact 58a of limit switch 58 normally closed switch contact 98a, and normally open contact 72d of relay 72 which is closed when relay 72 is energized. When relay 96 is energized its normally closed contacts 96a is opened and relay 66 is de-energized.

Relay 66 is the initially energized relay and is held energized for the entire sequence of events. When it is de-energized relay 72 is de-energized. When relay 72 is dc-energized its normally open contact 72d is again opened and relay 96 is de-energized.

The normally closedcontact 6612 which initially stopped the entry conveyor 2 by opening the circuit to conveyor motor 68M, is closed again. This causes the entry conveyor to start up again and advance carton B to displace the tied carton A onto the exit conveyor. This completes the tying cycle.

Re-tie selector switch 98, having normally closed contacts 98a, 98b and 98a and normally open contacts 98c, 98d and 98 interchanges the electrical position of limit switches 56 and 58 in the circuit. This serves two purposes. If, for some reason, the machine is stopped so that limit switch 58 is not actuated while limit switch 56 is, and the selector switch is in normal position with open contacts 98c, 98d and 98 the machine would not start. By throwing the selector switch to its other position with contacts 98c, 98d and 987 closed, the machine is brought into sequence and is able to start. Secondly, in the event a tie should be missed and the operator is at hand, he can throw the switch to the other position before the sequence is completed and cause the machine to recycle for one tie or two depending upon what part of the cycle has been completed when the switch is operated.

The by-pass switch 76 having normally closed contacts 76a, 76b, 76c and 76d and normally open contact 76e is operated to allow cartons to pass through the tying machine without being tied if so desired. When the by-pass switch is operated, normally closed contact 760 is opened which de-energizes the L1 bus; normally closed contact 7612 is opened to prevent relay contact 70b from re-energizing the L1 bus through limit switch 24 and normally closed contact 76d; normally closed contact 76a is opened to prevent energizing the L1 bus through limit switches 58 or 56 and also prevents energizing the solenoid valve 82 when relay 70 is energized; and normally open by-pass switch contact 762 is closed to complete a circuit to relay 96 at the time solenoid 14R is energized as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

When it is desired to by-pass the tying operation, bypass switch 76 is operated, the machine is started in the normal manner and a carton closes flag switch 12, thus energizing relay 66. The normally open contact 66b across flag switch 12 seals-in relay 66 and normally open contact 66c closes to complete a circuit to 7 solenoid 14P through normally closed relay contacts 70a, 72a, 74a, limit switch 24 contact 24a, and normally closed by-pass switch contact 76d. This operates cylinder 14 which causes the carton to bepushed into the tying machine.

Limit switch 24 is tripped at the end of the projected travel of the piston rod 16 of cylinder 14 which causes contact 2411 of limit switch 24 to close and contact 24a to open. This de-energizes solenoid 14F and energizes solenoid 14R and relay 96 through normally open (now closed) .by-pass switch contact 76d, normally closed relay contact 7811, contact 24b (now closed) of limit switch 24 and by-pass switch contact 76d. This retracts piston rod 16 into cylinder 14. Normally closed relay contact 96a is opened when relay 96 is energized so that relay 66 is de-energized. When relay 66 is de-energized normally closed contact 66a is closed again so that a circuit to motor 60M can again be completed by operating pushbutton 60. This powers the entry conveyor so that the next carton is advanced into the tying machine pushing the first carton onto the exit conveyor.

While one embodiment of our invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for handling prism-shaped articles at a tying machine including a table and a conveyor delivering articles thereto, the combination therewith of a pivoted arm adapted to push an article from said conveyor into tying position on said table, means for turning the article on said table through substantially 90 degrees, said turning means being a horizontally reciprocable ram positioned to engage a corner of the article, means actuated by said pivoted arm for initiating operation of said machine, and means actuated by completion of a tying operation for causing operation of said turning means.

2. In apparatus for handling prism-shaped articles at a tying machine including a table and a conveyor delivering articles thereto, the combination therewith of a pivoted arm adapted to push an article from said conveyor into tying position on said table, a reciprocable squaring pusher on said table adapted to engage a side of an article and align it in tying position, means for turning the article on said table through substantially 90 degrees, means actuated by said arm for initiating operation of said machine, and means actuated by completion of a tying operation for causing operation of said turning means.

3. The combination as defined by claim 2 including means actuated by retraction of said turning means for causing operation of said squaring pusher and said pivot pushing arm.

4. The combination as defined by claim 2 including means actuated by retraction of said squaring pusher for causing an operation of the tying machine.

5. The combination as defined by claim 2 including a fluid-pressure cylinder and piston for operating said squaring pusher, and a switch responsive to pressure in said cylinder for retracting said piston.

6. In apparatus for handling prism-shaped articles at a tying machine including a table and a conveyor delivering articles thereto, the combination therewith of an oscillatable pusher adapted to advance articles from said conveyor to said table, a reciprocable turning pusher on said table adapted to engage a corner of an article and turn it about a vertical axis, a reciprocable squaring pusher adapted to true the article to tying position, means actuated by the oscillatable pusher controlling the tying machine, means actuated by the tying machine controlling the turning pusher, and means actuated by the turning pusher controlling the squaring pusher and the oscillatable pusher.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Eberle Mar. 10, 1953 Castello June 7, 1955 

